– Two corroded shells, probably dating from World War II, were discovered in Złotoryja County. The unexploded ordnance was found in Złotoryja and near the village of Nowy Kościół – explains Aspirant Dominika Kwakszys from the District Police Headquarters in Złotoryja.
She adds: “Both reports of the discovered unexploded ordnance were received by the duty officer at the District Police Headquarters in Złotoryja. The information was immediately passed on to bomb-disposal specialists from the military unit in Bolesławiec. Until they arrived, police officers secured the areas where the shells had been found.”
In Nowy Kościół, the approximately 20-centimetre shell was removed by the bomb-disposal specialists without the need for any additional action. The spokesperson said: “In Złotoryja, after examining both the shell and the area where it was found, a decision was made to evacuate 30 residents from buildings on Łąkowa Street adjacent to the site where the work was being carried out. Once the approximately 30-centimetre shell had been secured, the residents returned to their homes.
Police conclude:
Our forests and soil conceal many remnants of the past. Because they are corroded, such shells may explode following a slight impact or even when touched. Therefore, we remind everyone that discovered unexploded ordnance must not be touched, picked up, dug out, moved or thrown into a fire. Explosives used in military applications are, in practice, completely resistant to weather conditions and retain their explosive properties regardless of their production date. If any objects resembling unexploded ordnance are found, special precautions must be taken. The location of such a discovery should be clearly marked, secured against access by bystanders, and the Police or other services should be notified immediately.